Standing Ovation for Steve Saranchuk at Freshtival 2009

The Rockies ski community turned out en force to get stoked on the coming winter and reacquaint themselves with those people they only recognize in ski goggles.

Thursday night saw the new film, "The Edge of Never" play before TGR's latest incarnation, "Re:session." Mike Douglas was on hand to emcee along with pro athletes Dana Flahr and Callum Petit.

"The Edge of Never" set about capturing the essence of skiing and when they travelled to Chamonix with Kye Peterson to ski the run that claimed his freeskiing father, Trevor, they discovered that the essence of skiing lay in the community that skiing creates.

That was perhaps never more apparent than on Friday night when a sold out crowd filled the theater for the feature presentation of MSP's "In Deep". Mike Douglas paid tribute to Steve Saranchuk, the owner of Fresh and founder of Freshtival and asked him to come up on stage to say a few words about the year he has just survived.

Steve took the microphone and spoke openly about his recent battle with head and neck cancer and how his wife, staff, friends and athletes, and his customers—skiers—supported him throughout. He was given a standing ovation which was a fitting gesture for an individual who has really driven skiing in the Rockies and helped develop athletes such as Eric Hjorliefson and Chris Rubens.

Saturday night featured Nimbus and Poor Boyz with Eric Pollard, TJ Schiller, Mike Henitiuk, and JP Auclair on hand to distribute shwag to the masses and introduce the films. Poor Boyz film, "Every Day is a Saturday" proved it deserved the accolade of Best Film at this year’s IF3 with the most progressive riding. The film whipped the crowd into a frenzy which then descended on Julio's Barrio in Kensington for the Oakley Apres Freshtival party that left all involved feeling worse for wear Sunday morning, but no less stoked on the coming season.

http://www.freshsports.ca/